E7A: a compact, powerful and environmentally friendly electric motor
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Building on its expertise in the field of wound rotor electric motors, which it has pioneered in the automotive sector since 2012, the Renault Group is continuing its momentum, through its subsidiary Ampere, to design a new engine unique and unparalleled in the world, even more powerful and more efficient, without resorting to rare earths.
A breakthrough from France will bring about a more powerful, more compact and cleaner electric motor: Renault Group and Valeo are combining their expertise to create a new electric motor generation. As a result of the regular conversations between the carmaker and the equipment manufacturer, this partnership that started in 2021 soon grew into a co-development journey. They each pooled one key part (Renault Group the rotor, Valeo the stator) as well as their expertise in technology development and production. The are currently fine-tuning their E7A high-tech electric motor with no rare earths.
Without rare earths, a more environmentally friendly electric motor
The Renault Group is a pioneer and leader in winding-rotor synchronous electric motors (EESM technology, for Electrically Excited Synchronous Motor), launched in large series with ZOE in 2012. Its expertise lies in providing mastery for this new electric motor, called E7A, an "all-in-one" architecture making it 30% more compact at the same power as the current motors that equip Mégane E-Tech electric and ScénicE- .Tech electric, but also a rotor technology devoid of rare earths, which reduces its carbon impact by 30%. By favoring the wound rotor in front of the permanent magnet electric motor technology, Renault Group offers better efficiency to its engine, secures its supply and also retains its independence from countries producing rare earths and magnets.
More power and efficiency
This third generation rare earth free electric motor will also help to reduce the battery recharge time since the system voltage will be raised to 800 volts, against 400 volts as standard currently. And it will prove to be both powerful and efficient, via a Hairpin technology stator. The new E7A electric motor will thus develop up to 200 kW: more power without needing to use more electrical energy. At this stage, this engine is in the development phase. Other steps remain to be taken before he sees the serial life. The large-scale production of this new generation engine will be carried out by the Cléon d'Ampere plant.
